Blue Rodeo, Tom Jackson win Governor General's arts awards

Toronto rock band Blue Rodeo and noted Mtis actor Tom Jackson are among the winners of the 2014 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.

British Columbia actor Brent Carver has also been recognized with a lifetime artistic achievement award.

Other winners include three Quebecers: actress Janine Sutto, dancer and teacher Anik Bissonnette and choreographer and dancer Louise Lecavalier.

The laureates were announced at ceremonies today in Montreal, Toronto, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., Calgary and Winnipeg.

"For a band to be recognized for a lifetime of playing music, it's a pretty great thing," Blue Rodeo singer-songwriter and co-founder Greg Keelor told CBC News in Toronto Wednesday morning.

"We do keep our heads very much in the present," added fellow frontman Jim Cuddy.

"Writing songs, performing with the band that's 99.9 per cent of what we do. And then every so often, especially in the last couple of years, we've been able to enjoy this glass of champagne that are these awards. It's a very pleasant thing, but it's not the main gist of our work."

Actor Albert Schultz, who is the founding artistic director of the acclaimed Soulpepper Theatre Co. in Toronto, was also recognized on Wednesday with the National Arts Centre Award.

The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards were founded in 1992 and are given to Canadians whose accomplishments are deemed to have inspired and enriched the country.